December Consumer Financial Protection Events Announced

Harrisburg, PA – Education and outreach staff from the Department of Banking and Securities will be meeting with groups of senior citizens and the public, throughout the month of December to promote financial capability as part of Governor Tom Wolf’s Consumer Financial Protection Initiative.

For Senior Citizens

The presentation “Investment Fraud Bingo” – an interactive presentation to help participants learn ways to protect themselves from investment frauds – will be offered at the following locations:

Southern Blair Senior Center at 15229 Dunnings Highway in East Freedom (Blair County) on December 3 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM

Catawissa Senior Center at 319 Pine Street in Catawissa (Columbia County) on December 5 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM

Williamsburg Senior Center at 423 W. Second Street in Williamsburg (Blair County) on December 10 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

Center in the Park at 5818 Germantown Avenue in Philadelphia on December 11 from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM

The Central Blair Center at 1320 12th Avenue in Altoona (Blair County) on December 13 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM

The presentation “Cybersecurity – Staying Safe on the Internet” – covering key topics such as using secure websites, creating strong passwords, being aware of what you put on social media, and even tips for shopping online safely – will be offered at KleinLife Center at 10100 Jamison Avenue in Philadelphia on December 5 from 1:15 PM to 2:15 PM. (Open to Travel Club Members ONLY)

Outreach staff will present “Spending Plans” – which outlines the differences between wants and needs; setting “SMART” goals; creating a spending plan; and putting the plan into action – will be offered at Columbia Senior Center at 510 Walnut Street in Columbia (Lancaster County) on December 12 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

For General Audiences

Outreach staff will present “Investment Fraud Bingo” at the following locations:

American Legion, Post 516 Social Hall at 104 Del Delight in Hollidaysburg (Blair County) on December 19 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM

The presentation “Responsible Homeownership” – discussing issues such as anticipating home repairs; being prepared for the unexpected; budgeting; and not buying more than you can afford – will be offered at the Township Library of Lower Southampton at 1983 Bridgetown Pike in Feasterville (Bucks County) on December 5 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

A presentation combining “Avoiding Scams and ID Theft” and “Cybersecurity – Staying Safe Online” will be offered at Westmoreland Casemanagement and Supports, Inc. at 770 East Pittsburgh Street in Greensburg (Westmoreland County) on December 7 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Registration is not required, but strongly recommended by contacting mkeller@wcswi.org or 724-257-1403.

The STaRT (Start Today and Retire Tomorrow) program – which focuses on retirement planning, setting goals, and how to achieve those goals – will be offered at Rachel Kohl Library at 687 Smithbridge Road in Glen Mills (Delaware County) on December 11 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

A combined presentation of “Preparing for Big Purchases,” “Understanding Credit Reports and Scores,” and “Consumer Fraud Bingo” – focusing on the financial issues of buying a new car or home; the importance of your credit report; the impact of a new purchase on other financial obligations; and a interactive game to help players identify scams and financial fraud – will be offered at Norristown CareerLink at 1855 New Hope Street in Norristown (Montgomery County) on December 19 from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Registration is required by contacting 610-270-3429.

The department’s Investor Education and Consumer Outreach staff works with state and local government agencies, service providers, community and trade organizations, the General Assembly, the military community, schools, and other partners to help Pennsylvanians across the commonwealth become well-informed about the financial marketplace. There are a variety of free, non-commercialprograms [PDF] and presentations [PDF] available, or a program can be tailored to a specific group’s needs.

The department’s Calendar of Events can be found online here. Consumers and community groups can call 1-800-PA-BANKS or emailinformed@pa.gov for more information. To learn more about the Consumer Financial Protection Initiative, search #GovWolfCFPI on Twitter.